9. Hon MARK GOSCHE (Labour—Maungakiekie) Link to this
to the Minister for ACC
What recent announcements has she made regarding funding for home-based support workers?
Hon MARYAN STREET (Minister for ACC) Link to this
I am pleased to have recently announced that in Budget ‘08 this Labour-led Government will allocate an additional $46.5 million over 4 years to support injured New Zealanders, affecting some 14,000 claims a year. This additional money will fund non-agency providers of home-based support, who are predominantly friends and family members of injured people who have given up parts of their own lives in order to care for them.
How does this additional funding build on previous increases in funding for the home-based support sector?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
In February, contracted home-support workers received a funding boost of an additional $25 million a year. Both of these increases ensure that carers’ pay rates are fair, and they will also encourage more stability in the workforce.
Pansy WongIs the Minister not aware of many complaints that home-based support workers are opting to exit the sector, despite the so-called extra funding, due to many of them not being able to comprehend the changes that were introduced to make them independent contractors?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
The increase for non-contracted caregivers represents a substantial improvement on their rates of pay. It is designed particularly to improve low pay, and to improve the retention of those workers in that sector.